Padlock



Sept. 26, 1933. F. H. STEFFEN PADLOCK Filed Aug. 29. 1932 F9172 h. Surf's/v 11v VENTOR A TTORNE r Patented Sept. 26, "1933 PADLOCK 7 V Fritz H. Steffen, Jackson HeightspN.

Application August 29, 1932. Serial No. 630,839

16 Claims, (01. 70-108) 'This inventionrelates to padlocks, and provides a simplified construction possessing all of the advantages of the best grade padlocks.

The most'widely used types or padlocks have 5. a shackle and a case with openings or sockets for'the ends of the shackle. One of the ends is usually longer than the other, and can not be removed from the case, but has enough sliding movement to permit the shorter end to rise but of its socket to open the shackle. The shacklecan be rotated about the axis of the longer end when open. 'In somepadlocks this .rotation is limited to'a 90 arc, and in other padlocks is unlimited. The shackle is held closed by locking mechanism inside the case, which operates a bolt or other locking] projection, extending intoa recess in either" the short or long end of the shackle, and prevents'sliding movement of the shackle into open position.

It .is desirable to have the locking mechanism of a padlock as simple as possible to obtain econiomy in manufacture and'reliability'in use. It is highly important, however, to have the lock secure, so that when locked it can not be opened 12 by picking or tapping. The construction and arrangement of the pins} leversand other parts 'which are operated by the key determines whether a lock can be successfully picked. The design, location and operating connections of the 1. 9 bolt or other lock projection which holds the shackle closed determines the ability of a pad; lock to remain locked when tapped or hammered. i r

Pin tumbler or sliding tumbler locking mechanism, having from three to six tumblers, are commonly used in high grade padlock's. ,Such locking mechanisms are well known and provide adequate insurancev against picking of the look. If the bolt or other locking projection 1 which holds the shackle closed is not held against movement relative to the shackle when the padlock is locked, it is often possible to open the padlock by tap'ping'the outsideiof the case, so. that the inertia of the bolt causes suflicient relative movement to release the shackle and thus permit the padlockto open without the. use of akey.

Many constructions have been devised in which the boltor other locking projection is held so that it can not be moved by tapping or hammer? ing'the outside of the padlock, and this invenprovide asecure padlock construction which is shackle closed, and into a transverseposition to permit the shackle to open. It is another object to provide such a padlock with an abutment on the shackle for returning the locking. projection to .locking position as the shackle is moved into closed position." f

A more specific object is to provide a padlock having arshacklewith one end longer than the other, and a recess in the longer end into which a locking projection extends for contact with a side wall of the recess to hold the shackle closed when the projection is in locking position; and N to provide mechanism for turning the projection in the recess so that it permits sliding and rotary movement of theshackle into open position.

] Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent or be pointed out as thespecification proceeds.

. In the accompanying drawing, forming 'a part hereof:

I Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a padlock embodying the invention; 7 Fig. 2 ,is' a sectional view on the' 1ine-2-2 of Fi .1;fl' 7 p Fig. 3 is a'view or'the'lower end of the shackle, looking along the axis of the locking, means, the locking projection being shown in section; Fig. 4is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the positions of the parts when the padlock-is unlocked and the shackle open; 7

Fig.5 is a view of the same parts shown in Fig. 4, but taken at right angles to the plane of Fig. 4; i i V i Fig. 6'-is a sectional viewon the line66 of Fig. 3; i Fig 7 is a side elevation, partly in section, 0 a modified form or the invention;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the padlock shown in Fig. 7, the shackle being turned at 90 and partly broken away; i f

] Figs. 9 and 10 are' views similar to Figs. 3 and lOO 5, but showing the modified form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 7;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view along the line 11-11 of Fig.9; and

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, and partly broken away, showing another modified form of the invention.

The padlock shown in Fig. 1 has. a shackle 21 with a short end 22 and a long end 23. A case" 25 has a socket 27'for'theshor't end 22 and a socket 29 for the long end of the shackle. The' socket 27 is deep enough so that the shackle will not clear the socket if bent slightly in an efl'ort to force the lock. The side of the socket 27 cut down at one or both sides .of the case,as

indicated at 30, so that less longitudinal motion is required to open the shackle.

An opening 32 extends through one side or the 4 case to the socket 29. Tumbler locking mechanism is locatedin the opening 32 and has pins 34 and springs extending into the upper part of thecasing, as shown, inFig. 1. To assemble the padlock, the pins 34 and their springs are in serted through the top ends of the pin openings in the case, and a cover 36 isplaced over the openings and fastened in place by rivets 3.8 'so' that it forms a rigid and permanent'part of the case. Pin tumbler locking mechanism is shown in the drawing, but it will be understoodthat sliding tumblers" or other locking 'me'chanism can be substituted for that shown;

The locking mechanism includes a'plug 40 and a locking projection 41 connected with the end of the plug and extending into the shackle socket 29. A plug retainer 42 extends into an annular groove 44 in the plug and holds the locking mech anism in' the casing withoutinterfering with free rotary movement of the locking mechanism.

The locking projection .41""has an elongated shape and fits into a slotfin the end of the plug 40. .Rivets '46 secur the locking projection rigidly to the plug. I "L The longend of the shackle has a recess in which the locking projection 41 operates. A portion of the recess comprises an annular groove 48. This groove is slightly wider than'the locking projection 41, so that when the locking projection is in a transverse position with respect to the shackle, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the projection 41 will not interfere with complete rotation of the shackle.

The recess in" the shackle has a" longitudinal portion 50 which is occupied by the. projection 41 whenin locking position. This longitudinal portion has a side wall 52, which serves as an abutment for limiting the rotation of the locking projection as it moves into locking position.

A compressed springf5'4 in the bottom of the socket 29 moves the shackle'2l into open position whenever thelocking' projection 41 is turned into a transverse position) The locking projection rotates with the plug 40, and therefore turns about the axis of the plug as a'center, but the center of the locking projection is preferably located to one side of the plugaxis, as shown-in Figs. 2 and 3, so that when the plug turns the projection into the transverse position shown in Figs. 4iand 5, the projection will be higher, and permit a greater rise of the shackle, than would bethe case if the center. of the projection lay on the axis of theplug. A V V .T m fi d rm f e nv nt n h wn n Figs. 7-11 has the same kind of locking mechanism asdescribed, ,butthe recess in the shackle does not extend all the wayarbuna the shackle.

In Figs. 7-11 a shackle 58 has a recess with a groove 60 corresponding to the annular groove 48 but extending only far enough to permit a limited angular rotation of the shackle 58 when open. The groove 60 shown in the drawing permits a 90 movement of the shackle when open. This groove construction has the advantage that the crosssection of the shackle 58 adjacent the groove 60 is much larger, and the shackle therefore stronger, than the shackle 21 in which the groove extends entirely around the shackle.

Since the recess in the shackle 58 extends only part way around the shackle, it can be made deeper. This deeper recess permits the use of a longer locking projection 61, and thus provides a stronger lock.

The end of the shackle 58 is slotted, and the upper end of a compressed and twisted spring 62' shackle into the 90 position shown in Fig. 8.

In Fig. '7 the side of the socket 27 is cut down, as indicatedat 30, but since the shackle can turn to one side only, and can not rotatethrough a full circle, only one'side of the socket 2'7 is cut away.

Fig. 12 shows a modified construction for connecting the elongated locking projection to the plug. This construction provides a lost-motion connection between the plug and the locking projection so that the plug can be moved back to its original position and the key removed when the padlock is unlocked.

In Fig. 12 an elongated locking projection 71 corresponds to the projection 41 already described. This locking projection I1 is integral with, or rigidly connected to, a sleeve 73 which fits over the end of a plug '75 corresponding to the plug 40 in the embodiments heretofore described. The sleeve '73 is held on the plug 75 by pins 77, which fit tightly in the plug and extend through slots 79 in the sleeve. These slots permit a movement of the sleeve with respect to the plug.

The endof the plug 75 is recessed to house a twisted spring 81 which fits into slots in the plug 75 and locking projection '71. The spring istwisted' in'such a direction that it tends to rotate the locking projection '71 in the direction in which it turns to lock the padlock. Thus, with the parts in positions corresponding to those shown in Fig.3, the spring 81 would tend to turn the'locking member in a counter-clockwise directionnndholdit against the side wall of the recess. The spring 81; therefore, holds the lock upward'jmovem'ent of the shackle. Force applied to 'theshaclile to open it by pulling'the long end 23 upward does not tend to rotate the locking projection into unlocked position. The lower face of the locking projection canfbe shaped to cause a cam action so thatupward pressure of the lower side wall of the groove 48 tends to rot'ate'the locking projection against the wall 52. ,If the lower face of the locking projection 41 is flat or contacts with the lower sidewall of the groove 48 directly under the axis of rotation of theplug 40, then .upward force applied to the shackle will produce no resultant force tending to rotate the locking projection in either direction. This feature of the invention applies to all modifications illustrated. The projection 41 can not rotate except with the plug 40. The pins 34 prevent rotation of the plug when there is nokey in the plug. Since tapping or hammering thelock will not bringthe pins 34 into line, it is impossible to open the lock by tapping. i

When the proper key is inserted in the plug 40, the pins 34 are moved into line to permit the plug to turn and the locking projection 41 is rotated into the position shown in Figs. 4 and 5. During this rotation of the locking projectionsi; the spring 5 l moves the shackle up into openposition.

When the shackle is to, be closed again, the key can be rotated in the opposite direction to turn the locking projection and force the shackle downwardly bycam action of a corner of the locking projection against the lower side wall of the right position. The side wall 52 prevents further rotation of the locking projection when it reaches locking position. The groove 48 is slightly wider than the width of the projection so that there is clearance for the projection to rotate as the shackle moves downwardly.

It will be understood that the lost-motion connection shown in Fig.12 can be used with either the shackle of Fig. l or Fig. .7, and an abutment projection which extends into the shackle'recess' rigid with the case can be used in Fig. '7 to limit the rotation of the shackle if the locking-projection is to be relieved of this strain. Other combinations and modifications may' be made without departing from the invention as defined in the appended claims. 1

I claim: V

1. A padlock comprising a case;.a shackle having one end longer than the other; sockets in the case for receiving the respective ends of the shackle, said ends being slidable longitudinally in the sockets; locking means within the. case, including an elongated locking projection movable into a substantially longitudinal position with re spect to the shackle for holdingthe shackle in closed position with both ends of the shackle in their respective. sockets, and means for moving the locking projection into a substantially transverse position so that the shackle can slide outwardly into open position with the short end clear of the case.

2. A padlock comprising a case; a shackle having one end longer than the other, and a'recess in the longer end; a spring urging the shackle outwardly to open the shackle; and locking means within the case includingan elongated locking and can berotated within the recess, said looking projection being shaped so that when in substantially longitudinal position with respect to the shackle it contacts with a wall of the recess to hold the shackle closed and locked, and when moved into a substantially transverse position it moves away from said wall of the recess so that the spring thrusts the shackle outward into open position.

3. In combination, a padlock case; a shackle 'having one end longer than the other; locking :means .within the case,-including a rotatable piug, and an elongated locking projection con- .nected with the plug and fitting withina recess in the long end of the shackle, said elongated; .locking projection being shaped so that when in substantialy longitudinal position with respect to the shackle it contacts with a wall of the recess. to hold the shackle closed and locked.

. 4. Incombinaticn, a padlock case; a shackle projection fittingwithin a recess in the long end .of the shackle, said elongated locking porjection being shaped so that when in substantially 1ongitudinal position with respect to the shackle it contactswith a wall of the recess to hold the shackle closed and locked; and a connection betweenthe locking projection and the tumbler lock for turning the locking projection into a substantially transverse position so that v the shackle can move into open position.

5. A padlock comprsing a shackle; a case having sockets for the respective of the shackle; a locking projection extendi into one of the shackle sockets and having transverse'of the socket axis; locking me..ns within the casing for turningsaid locking projection about its axis to unlock the padlock; and abutment on theshack-le for limiting the turni of the locking projection in one direction.

6. A padlock comprising a. casing;

recess in the sideof the longer end; locking means, within the casing, including a locking projection extending into the recess in the shackle for contact a side wall ofthe recess to lock the shackle against opening, the locking projection being shaped to :turn in the recess so that the shackle can move into open position; and abutments in the recess for limiting the turning movement of the locking projection, in one direction; r Y v 7.- A. padlock comprising a shackle; a" casing having sockets for the ends of the'shackle; locking means in the casing extending transversel with respect to the ends of the shackle, and having allocking projection'extending into one or" the shackle sockets; a shoulder on the end of the shackle for abutting against said projection, when in'locking position, to hold the shackle closed; and an abutment on the shackle for retion extending from one end of the-plug; a

shoulder on the shackle for contact with the projection, when in locking position, to prevent Ev a shackle having one end longei than the other, and a casing; a' shackle opening of the. shackle; and an abutment on the shackle for returning the projection to locking position as the shackle is pushed. into looking position after the shackle has been opened.

9. A padlock including a casing; a shackle;

abutments on the shackle; a plug; a locking projection extending from one end of the plug into the path of the abutments; means for rotating the plug and locking projection to release the shackle for movement into open positon; the

abutments on the shackle being located in position to stop the rotary movement of the locking projection when it reaches locking position and when it reaches unlocked position.

10. A padlock including a casing; a shackle; an abutment on the shackle; a plug; a locking projection extending from one end of the plug for contacting with said abutment to hold the shackle closed; means for rotating the plug and locking projection to release the shackle for movement into open position; and another abutment on' the shackle for returning the locking projection to locking position when the shackle is moved from opento closed position. v

11. A padlock comprising a case; a shackle; locking mechanism including an elongated locking projection rotatable into a longitudinal position with respect to the shackle for holding the shackle closed, or into a transverse position so that the shackle will open; and an abutment on the shackle for rotating the locking projection from transverse to longitudinal position as.

'case with sockets for both ends of the shackle; a

tumbler lock in the case with an elongated locking projection extending into the recess in the shackle at such a location that an end of the locking projection contacts with a side Wall of the annular groove to hold the shackle closed when the locking projection is in longitudinal position with-respect to the shackle; a spring for moving the shackle into open position with the annular groove in line with the locking projection when said projection is turned into a transverse position with respect to the shackle so that the shackle can be rotated about the axis of the longer end.

13. A padlock comprising a shackle having one end longer than the other; a case having sockets for the ends of the shackle; a tumbler lock in the case extending substantially at right angles to the axis of the long end of the shackle; a projection connected with'one end of the lock and extending into the socket of the long end of the shackle, the shackle having a recess for the projection, and said recess having a longitudinal portion which is occupied by the locking projection when in position to hold the shackle closed, said recess also having a transverse portion with a side wall which abuts against: the locking projection to limit the opening movement of the shackle; and another side wall which abuts against the locking projection to limit the swinging movement of the shackle when openyand a spring for moving the shackle into open position and rotating it into contact with the sidewall which limits the swinging movement.

14. A padlock comprising a shackle having one end longer than the other; a case having sockets for receiving the respective ends of the shackle; a spring under the longer end'of the shackle urging the shackle outwardly; locking means within the case, the axis of said locking means extending transversely with respect to the longer end of theshackle; a locking projection fitting within a recess in the longer end of the shackle, said projection being in position to hold the shackle'with both ends in their respective sockets when the padlock is locked, said projection being connected to the locking means to be turned by said locking means into position sov that the spring moves the shackle outwardly and the short end of the shackle moves out of its socket to open the shackle. I

15. A padlock comprising a shackle having one end longer than the other; a case having sockets for the ends of the shackle; a tumbler lock in'the case extending substantially at right angles to the axis or" the lon end of the shackle; a projection at the end of the lock and extending into the socket of the long end of the shackle, the shackle having a recess for the projection; a lost-motion connection between the lock and projection so that the projection will turn with the lock for case extending substantially at right angles to the axis of the long end of the shackle; a projection at the end of the lock and extending into thesocket of the long end of the shackle, the shackle having a recess for the projection; a lostmotion connection between the lock and projection so that the projection will turn with the lock for opening the shackle and the lock can return to its initial position independently of the projection; an abutment on the shackle for returning the lockingprojection to locking position as theshackle moves fromopen to closed position; and a spring holding the locking projection against movement toward unlocked position.

FRITZ H. STEFFEN. 

